Penelitian IT

Penelitian Teknologi Informasi (TI) cukup berbeda dengan penelitian di bidang sosial kemasyarakatan. Umumnya penelitian TI tidak mempunyai metodelogi yang jelas, tidak ada pembuatan kuesioner, tidak ada pengolahan data dan hanya sedikit yang mencakup analisa hasil. Penelitian di bidang TI, sepanjang yang pernah saya amati, bisa mencakup beberapa jenis penelitian termasuk:1. Penelitian Murni TI: Penelitian jenis ini merupakan penelitian yang berusahamemecahkan permasalahan-permasalahan yang muncul terkait bidang TI dengan mencari solusi-solusi yang bersifat fundamental. Umumnya penelitian ini banyak berkecimpung mempelajari teori-teori yang ada untuk dapat mengembangkan teori-teori fundamental terkait lainnya. Beberapa penelitian yang bisa termasuk di dalam cakupan ini antara lain pengembangan:* Metodologi pengembangan sistem informasi* Metodologi pembuatan data warehouse* Metode-metode data mining/soft-computing* Konsep jaringan* Metode searching* Teori Optimasi* Metode Pemilihan Variabel* Sistem keamanan jaringan* Metode enkripsi dekripsi* Bahasa pemrograman* Metode penyimpan data* Metode pengolahan citra* Metode pengenalan pola* Among others2. Penelitian Terapan TI: Penelitian terapan di bidang TI lebih mengacu pada penelitian yang memanfaatkan teori atau metode, yang telah dikembangkan orang lain dalam cakupan penelitian murni TI, di dalam pengembangan penelitian lanjutan. Beberapa penelitian yang bisa dimasukkan di dalam cakupan penelitian ini antara lain pengembangan:* Sistem kontrol berbasis soft-computing* Hardware yang menerapkan metode penyimpanan data baru* Metode analisa kedokteran berbasis soft-computing* Penelitian yang membandingkan antara teori/metode* Sistem operasi yang berbasis open source* Sistem database dengan sistem indexing data baru* Metode peningkatan efektifitas jaringan berbasis data mining* Sistem pencarian dengan metode searching baru* Word processing dengan metode spell checker baru* Sistem database dengan metode penyimpan data baru* Aplikasi pengolahan citra dengan metode pengolahan baru* Aplikasi pemodelan data yang mengakomodasi metode baru* Program-program (DLL atau JSP) untuk metode tertentu* Bioinformatics dan Biomedik* Penerapan Metode TI di Bidang Lain (Ekonomi, Sosial dll)* Among others3. Penelitian Pengembangan Sistem: Sistem yang dimaksud di sini merefer pada sistem yang dapat dipergunakan langsung oleh pengguna seperti sistem informasi dan sistem jaringan. Penelitian jenis ini umumnya berusaha menerapkan berbagai teori atau metode yang telah dikembangkan baik dalam cakupan penelitian murni maupun penelitian terapan seperti sistem database, bahasa pemrograman, konsep jaringan dan lain-lain. Penelitian yang tercakup umumnya mencakup pengembangan sistem untuk tujuan perorangan/komunitas tertentu seperti pengembangan:* Sistem informasi keuangan* Sistem pakar* Sistem pendukung keputusan* Sistem data warehouse* Sistem digital library* Sistem mobile dictionary* Sistem jaringan berbasis open source* Among othersDibandingkan dengan penelitian murni dan terapan bidang TI, penelitian jenis ini sekarang ini kelihatannya masih lebih banyak diminati oleh mahasiswa TI Indonesia dalam proses penyelesaian kegiatan belajar mereka. Penelitian jenis ini juga sudah jelas tata cara pelaksanaannya, karena metodologi pengembangan sistem umumnya sudah pernah diusulkan dalam tahapan penelitian murni.4. Penelitian Terkait Penggunaan dan Manajemen TI: Belakangan ini, dengan berkembangnya penerapan TI di masyarakat, keilmuan tentang efektivitas penggunaan dan keilmuan di bidang manajemen TI juga semakin berkembang. Penelitian terkait dengan keilmuan-keilmuan tersebut juga banyak dilakukan. Walaupun masih dalam ruang lingkup TI, penelitian jenis ini mungkin lebih banyak dikaitkan dengan penelitian bidang sosial kemasyarakatan, karena yang menjadi objek penelitian biasanya adalah user/pengguna TI, administrator TI atau provider TI. Sehingga kemungkinan untuk menerapkan metodologi penelitian seperti halnya penelitian di bidang sosial kemasyarakatan sangat besar.Mungkin ada yang masih memperdebatkan apakah kegiatan pengembangan sistem termasuk sebagai suatu kegiatan penelitian atau tidak. Kalau dilihat dari definisi dari kata penelitian (research) itu sendiri yaitu:Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and is aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising human knowledge on different aspects of the world. Research can use the scientific method, but need not do so.(sumber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research)kegiatan penelitian pada hakekatnya mempunyai tujuan untuk menemukan, menginterpretasikan ataupun merevisi pengetahuan yang ada di masyarakat. Sehingga, penelitian yang melibatkan kegiatan pengembangan sistem, karena tidak mencakup unsur menemukan, menginterpretasikan ataupun merevisi pengetahuan masyarakat, memang masih bisa menjadi bahan perdebatan apakah kegiatan tersebut bisa dimasukkan ke dalam kegiatan penelitian bidang TI atau tidak.Mengikuti perkembangan pendidikan tinggi TI Indonesia dan merefer bahwa, pengembangan sistem masih banyak diminati oleh mahasiswa TI di Indonesia sebagai bahan skripsi, saya sendiri secara pribadi berpendapat bahwa pengembangan sistem yang dilakukan dalam tatanan perkuliahan masih termasuk dalam pengerjaan projek (assignment) dari suatu perkuliahan, yang mungkin hanya bisa dijadikan tugas akhir (projek akhir) dari mahasiswa dengan level di bawah S1 (D1, D2, dan D3).

Perkembangan TIK

PERKEMBANGAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI.

Masa sekarang jelas berbeda dengan masa lalu. Banyak yang berubah dan berkembang di masa kini. Termasuk juga perkembangan Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi yang berembang di segala aspek.. Teknologi Informasi adalah segala hal yang berkaitan dengan proses manipulasi dan pengelolaan informasi. Sedangkan Teknologi Komunikasi adalah segala hal yang berkaitan dengan proses penyampaian informasi dari pengirim ke penerima . Oleh karena itu, Teknologi Informasi dan Teknologi Komunikasi merupakan padanan tak terpisahkan yang mengandung pengertian luas tentang segala kegiatan yang terkait dengan proses manipulasi, pengelolaan, dan pemindahan informasi antara pengirim dan penerima.Perkembangan teknologi komunikasi dan informasi saat ini berjalan begitu cepat. Hal ini seiring dengan kemajuan yang dicapai pada bidang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi. Sekarang ini, hamper tidak ada seorang pun yang tidak bersinggungan dengan teknologi komunikasi dan informasi. Teknologi telah memberi banyak kemudahan. Tdak dapat disangkal lagi bahwa gabungan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi telah mendorong terjadinya perubahan penting di berbagai sudut dunia. Kemajuan ini telah menunjukkan bahwa industri teknologi komunikasi dan informasi dunia benar benar bergerak kea rah mobilitas menembus batasan ruang dan waktu.Menurut waktunya, perkembangan teknologi komunikasi dibagi 2, yaitu :1. MASA KUNO (LAMPAU)Alat komunikasi masa lalu masih sangat sederhana dibandingkan sekarang. Peralatannya masih menggunakan bahan bahan dari alam. Contoh media komunikasi masa lalu adalah :a. Kentonganb. Asapc. Daun Lontar2. MASA SEKARANG (MODERN)Semenjak ditemukannya alat komunikasi untuk pertama kalinya, alat komunikasi ini terus mengalami perkembangan. Media komunikasi masa lalu pun turut mengalami kemajuan dan menjadi lebih praktis. Contoh media komunikasi masa sekarang adalah :a. Satelitb. Modem yaitu perangkat hardware yang dipasangkan pada komputer dan berfungsi mengubah sinyal digtal computer menjadi sinyal analog atau sebaliknya. Modem memungkinkan kita mengakses internet.c. Teleponalat telekomunikasi yang digunakan untuk mengirim dan menerima suara secara langsung (real time) dari jarak jauh melalui jaringan telepon atau sinyal listrik.d. HandphoneIni adalah perkembangan dari telepon. Seperti namanya, telepon genggam memunginkan kita untuk berkomunikasi dari jarak jauh tanpa sambungan kabel. Sedangkan teknologi informasi juga dibagi dua berdasarkan periode waktunya.1. MASA KUNO ( LAMPAU )Media informasi pada masa ini masih sangat sederhana, seperti:a. Prasasti : adalah batu bertulis yang berisi tentang informasi saat prasasti itu dibuat.b. Daun lontar2. MASA MODERNSeakan tidak mau kalah dengan teknologi komunikasi, teknologi informasi pun turut berkembang sesuai kemajuan zaman. Media informasi yang dipakai pada masa modern, contohnya :a. KomputerAdalah alat untuk memanipulasi dan mengelola data berdasarkan perintah yang diberikan. b. FaksimiliAdalah alat untuk mengirim atau menerima informasi melalu telephoto dengan system reproduksi fotografi.c. RadioAdalah alat penerima informasi berupa suara atau snyal dengan menggunakan media gelombang eletromagnetik.d. TelevisiAdalah alat penerima informasi berupa gambar dan suara yang dapat menerima transmisi gambar dan suara secara langsung.e. Internet.Ini merupakan perkembangan yang dirasa paling bermanfaat. Internet adalah jaringan komputer yang saling mentransfer data menguunakan Internet Protocol.Perkembangan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi dirasa begitu mendunia dan mempengaruhi berbagai kalangan. Misalnya saja Handphone. Awalnya HP hanya dibawa kalangan tertentu seperti pengusaha. Namun sekarang ini, HP justru merupakan kebutuhan primer dan dibawa oleh semua kalangan dari anak anak sampai dewasa. Fungsinya pun tidak hanya sebagai alat komunikasi tetapi juga sudah menjadi gaya hidup dan tren.Hal yang sama terjadi pula pada internet. Internet adalah sumber penyedia informasi yang cepat dan praktis. Internet tidak hanya digunakan untuk keperluan pekerjaan, namun bisa juga dipakai untuk sekedar have fun.Namun, perkembangan TIK tentulah membawa dampak yang baik dan buruk.DAMPAK POSITIF :1. Memudahkan orang dalam berkomunikasi dan Memperoleh Informasi secara cepat dan praktis.2. Membuka Peluang Bisnis Baru3. Mendorong Tumbuhnya Proses Demokrasi4. Meningkatkan Kualitas dan Kuantitas Publik5. Memperbaiki Pendidikan melalui E – Learning6. Menciptakan Lapangan KerjaDAMPAK NEGATIF :1. Munculnya Kejahatan Baru seperti Kekejaman dan Kesadisan2. Mempermudah Masuknya Budaya Asing yang Negatif3. Memudahkan Penyebaran Pornografi4. Tindak Penipuan5. Meluasnya Perjudian

Perkembangan TIK

PERKEMBANGAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI.

Masa sekarang jelas berbeda dengan masa lalu. Banyak yang berubah dan berkembang di masa kini. Termasuk juga perkembangan Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi yang berembang di segala aspek.. Teknologi Informasi adalah segala hal yang berkaitan dengan proses manipulasi dan pengelolaan informasi. Sedangkan Teknologi Komunikasi adalah segala hal yang berkaitan dengan proses penyampaian informasi dari pengirim ke penerima . Oleh karena itu, Teknologi Informasi dan Teknologi Komunikasi merupakan padanan tak terpisahkan yang mengandung pengertian luas tentang segala kegiatan yang terkait dengan proses manipulasi, pengelolaan, dan pemindahan informasi antara pengirim dan penerima.Perkembangan teknologi komunikasi dan informasi saat ini berjalan begitu cepat. Hal ini seiring dengan kemajuan yang dicapai pada bidang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi. Sekarang ini, hamper tidak ada seorang pun yang tidak bersinggungan dengan teknologi komunikasi dan informasi. Teknologi telah memberi banyak kemudahan. Tdak dapat disangkal lagi bahwa gabungan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi telah mendorong terjadinya perubahan penting di berbagai sudut dunia. Kemajuan ini telah menunjukkan bahwa industri teknologi komunikasi dan informasi dunia benar benar bergerak kea rah mobilitas menembus batasan ruang dan waktu.Menurut waktunya, perkembangan teknologi komunikasi dibagi 2, yaitu :1. MASA KUNO (LAMPAU)Alat komunikasi masa lalu masih sangat sederhana dibandingkan sekarang. Peralatannya masih menggunakan bahan bahan dari alam. Contoh media komunikasi masa lalu adalah :a. Kentonganb. Asapc. Daun Lontar2. MASA SEKARANG (MODERN)Semenjak ditemukannya alat komunikasi untuk pertama kalinya, alat komunikasi ini terus mengalami perkembangan. Media komunikasi masa lalu pun turut mengalami kemajuan dan menjadi lebih praktis. Contoh media komunikasi masa sekarang adalah :a. Satelitb. Modem yaitu perangkat hardware yang dipasangkan pada komputer dan berfungsi mengubah sinyal digtal computer menjadi sinyal analog atau sebaliknya. Modem memungkinkan kita mengakses internet.c. Teleponalat telekomunikasi yang digunakan untuk mengirim dan menerima suara secara langsung (real time) dari jarak jauh melalui jaringan telepon atau sinyal listrik.d. HandphoneIni adalah perkembangan dari telepon. Seperti namanya, telepon genggam memunginkan kita untuk berkomunikasi dari jarak jauh tanpa sambungan kabel. Sedangkan teknologi informasi juga dibagi dua berdasarkan periode waktunya.1. MASA KUNO ( LAMPAU )Media informasi pada masa ini masih sangat sederhana, seperti:a. Prasasti : adalah batu bertulis yang berisi tentang informasi saat prasasti itu dibuat.b. Daun lontar2. MASA MODERNSeakan tidak mau kalah dengan teknologi komunikasi, teknologi informasi pun turut berkembang sesuai kemajuan zaman. Media informasi yang dipakai pada masa modern, contohnya :a. KomputerAdalah alat untuk memanipulasi dan mengelola data berdasarkan perintah yang diberikan. b. FaksimiliAdalah alat untuk mengirim atau menerima informasi melalu telephoto dengan system reproduksi fotografi.c. RadioAdalah alat penerima informasi berupa suara atau snyal dengan menggunakan media gelombang eletromagnetik.d. TelevisiAdalah alat penerima informasi berupa gambar dan suara yang dapat menerima transmisi gambar dan suara secara langsung.e. Internet.Ini merupakan perkembangan yang dirasa paling bermanfaat. Internet adalah jaringan komputer yang saling mentransfer data menguunakan Internet Protocol.Perkembangan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi dirasa begitu mendunia dan mempengaruhi berbagai kalangan. Misalnya saja Handphone. Awalnya HP hanya dibawa kalangan tertentu seperti pengusaha. Namun sekarang ini, HP justru merupakan kebutuhan primer dan dibawa oleh semua kalangan dari anak anak sampai dewasa. Fungsinya pun tidak hanya sebagai alat komunikasi tetapi juga sudah menjadi gaya hidup dan tren.Hal yang sama terjadi pula pada internet. Internet adalah sumber penyedia informasi yang cepat dan praktis. Internet tidak hanya digunakan untuk keperluan pekerjaan, namun bisa juga dipakai untuk sekedar have fun.Namun, perkembangan TIK tentulah membawa dampak yang baik dan buruk.DAMPAK POSITIF :1. Memudahkan orang dalam berkomunikasi dan Memperoleh Informasi secara cepat dan praktis.2. Membuka Peluang Bisnis Baru3. Mendorong Tumbuhnya Proses Demokrasi4. Meningkatkan Kualitas dan Kuantitas Publik5. Memperbaiki Pendidikan melalui E – Learning6. Menciptakan Lapangan KerjaDAMPAK NEGATIF :1. Munculnya Kejahatan Baru seperti Kekejaman dan Kesadisan2. Mempermudah Masuknya Budaya Asing yang Negatif3. Memudahkan Penyebaran Pornografi4. Tindak Penipuan5. Meluasnya Perjudian

SMPN 1 Denpasar

SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar terletak di Jalan Surapati Nomor 2 Denpasar. Ini adalah tempat saya menimba ilmu sejak satu setengah tahun yang lalu tepatnya sejak bulan Juli tahun 2007. SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar merupakan salah satu sekolah terbaik dan terfavorit di Denpasar. Tidak hanya di Denpasar, di Bali bahkan di Indonesia. SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar berbeda dari sekolah sekolah lain yang ada di Bali. Pertama karena sistem penerimaan siswa baru di SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar tidak memakai NEM seperti sekolah sekolah lain. SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar mengadakan TPA yaitu Tes Potensi Akademik. Siswa yang boleh mengikut TPA adalah siswa yang memilki nilai raport rata rata 7,5. Selain itu SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar merupakan SMP pertama yang berpredikat SBI (Sekolah Berstandar Internasional) di Bali. Kelas kelasnya dibedakan menjadi tiga yaitu : Kelas SBI, Kelas Percepatan dan Kelas Reguler. Selama satu setengah tahun saya menimba ilmu di sini, sudah banyak perkembangan dari SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar. Masih teringat di benak saya, ketika pertama kali saya menginjakkan kaki di sekolah ini. Aulanya masih dalam proses perbaikan, kantinnya pun masih bobrok. Kursi dan meja yang tidak terpakai bertebaran di setiap sudut sekolah.Hingga akhirnya, SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar mengadakan renovasi besar besaran. Pembangunan aula, kantin , UKS dan perpustakaan baru. Ruang kelas juga dilengkapi dengan berbagai fasilitas seperti : AC, LCD, dan CCTV. Adanya Laboratorium Komputer, Laboratorium Biologi, Laboratorium Fisika dan Laboratorium Bahasa juga menunjang kegiatan belajar di sini.Dari segi pengajar di SMPN 1 Denpasar, sudah tidak diragukan lagi kualitasnya. Hal ini dibuktikan dengan banyaknya guru yang menyandang predikat sebagai guru berprestasi.Tidak hanya para guru, tetapi siswa siswinya pun banyak yang menyumbang prestasi untuk sekolah ini. Piala piala dari berbagai kejuaraan baik dari bidang akademik ataupun non akademik sudah banyak kita peroleh. Ada yang di tingkat daerah, nasional bahkan menembus tingkat internasional.Namun sebaik- baiknya sekolah ini, tentulah SMPN 1 Denpasar memiliki kekurangan. Masih ada fasilitas kelas yang tidak dimanfaatkan. Contohnya adalah AC di kelas saya yang sering tidak hidup. Remote nya masih harus ‘satu berdua’ dengan Ruang Multimedia.Kebersihan di SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar juga masih minim sekali. Seperti WC sekolah yang amat kotor. Kelas kelas siswa pun juga kotor. Jarang sekali saya melihat ada kelas yang benar benar bersih. Kecuali apabila ada tamu dan penilaian. Walaupun dipekerjakannya beberapa Cleaning Service, tetapi tetap saja kebersihan kurang terjaga. Ini karena siswa siswinya kurang peduli terhadap kebersihan. Hanya mengandalkan petugas yang tersedia. Untuk itu, pihak sekolah diharapkan menindaklanjutinya secara tegas.

Computer

HistoryThe capabilities of the PC have changed greatly since the introduction of electronic computers. By the early 1970s, people in academic or research institutions had the opportunity for single-person use of a computer system in interactive mode for extended durations, although these systems would still have been too expensive to be owned by a single person. The introduction of the microprocessor, a single chip with all the circuitry that formerly occupied large cabinets, led to the proliferation of personal computers after about 1975. Early personal computers - generally called microcomputers - were sold often in Electronic kit form and in limited volumes, and were of interest mostly to hobbyists and technicians. Minimal programming was done by toggle switches, and output was provided by front panel indicators. Practical use required peripherals such as keyboards, computer terminals, disk drives, and printers. By 1977, mass-market pre-assembled computers allowed a wider range of people to use computers, focusing more on software applications and less on development of the processor hardware.Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, computers were developed for household use, offering personal productivity, programming and games. Somewhat larger and more expensive systems (although still low-cost compared with minicomputers and mainframes) were aimed for office and small business use. Workstations are characterized by high-performance processors and graphics displays, with large local disk storage, networking capability, and running under a multitasking operating system. Workstations are still used for tasks such as computer-aided design, drafting and modelling, computation-intensive scientific and engineering calculations, image processing, architectural modelling, and computer graphics for animation and motion picture visual effects.[1]Eventually the market segments lost any technical distinction; business computers acquired color graphics capability and sound, and home computers and game systems users used the same processors and operating systems as office workers. Mass-market computers had graphics capabilities and memory comparable to dedicated workstations of a few years before. Even local area networking, originally a way to allow business computers to share expensive mass storage and peripherals, became a standard feature of the personal computers used at home.MarketIn 2001 125 million personal computers were shipped in comparison to 48 thousand in 1977. More than 500 million PCs were in use in 2002 and one billion personal computers had been sold worldwide since mid-1970s till this time. Of the latter figure, 75 percent were professional or work related, while the rest sold for personal or home use. About 81.5 percent of PCs shipped had been desktop computers, 16.4 percent laptops and 2.1 percent servers. United States had received 38.8 percent (394 million) of the computers shipped, Europe 25 percent and 11.7 percent had gone to Asia-Pacific region, the fastest-growing market as of 2002. The second billion was expected to be sold by 2008.[2] Almost half of all the households in Western Europe had a personal computer and a computer could be found in 40 percent of homes in United Kingdom, compared with only 13 percent in 1985.[3]As of June 2008, the number of personal computers in use worldwide hit one billion, while another billion is expected to be reached by 2014. Mature markets like the United States, Western Europe and Japan accounted for 58 percent of the worldwide installed PCs. The emerging markets were expected to double their installed PCs by 2013 and to take 70 percent of the second billion PCs. About 180 million PCs (16 percent of the existing installed base) were expected to be replaced and 35 million to be dumped into landfill in 2008. The whole installed base grew 12 percent annually.[4][5]Rugged computer industryBesides the regular computer manufacturers, companies making especially rugged versions of computers have sprung up, offering alternatives for people operating their machines in extreme weather or environments. [6]Netbooks and nettopsThe emergence of new market segment of small, energy-efficient and low-cost devices (netbooks and nettops) could threaten established companies like Microsoft, Intel, HP or Dell, analysts said in July 2008. A market research firm International Data Corporation predicted that the category could grow from fewer than 500,000 in 2007 to 9 million in 2012 as the market for low cost and secondhand computers expands in developed economies. [7] Also, after Microsoft ceased selling of Windows XP for ordinary machines, it made an exception and continued to offer the operating system for netbook and nettop makers.[8]TypesDesktop ComputerDell OptiPlex desktop computerPrior to the wide spread of PCs a computer that could fit on a desk was considered remarkably small. Today the phrase usually indicates a particular style of computer case. Desktop computers come in a variety of styles ranging from large vertical tower cases to small form factor models that can be tucked behind an LCD monitor. In this sense, the term 'desktop' refers specifically to a horizontally-oriented case, usually intended to have the display screen placed on top to save space on the desk top. Most modern desktop computers have separate screens and keyboards.NettopA subtype of desktops, called nettops, was introduced by Intel in February 2008 to describe low-cost, lean-function, desktop computers. A similar subtype of laptops (or notebooks) are the netbooks (see below).LaptopA modern mid-range HP Laptop.A laptop computer or simply laptop, also called a notebook computer or sometimes a notebook, is a small personal computer designed for mobility. Usually all of the interface hardware needed to operate the laptop, such as parallel and serial ports, graphics card, sound channel, etc., are built in to a single unit. Most laptops contain batteries to facilitate operation without a readily available electrical outlet. In the interest of saving power, weight and space, they usually share RAM with the video channel, slowing their performance compared to an equivalent desktop machine.One main drawback of the laptop is that, due to the size and configuration of components, relatively little can be done to upgrade the overall computer from its original design. Some devices can be attached externally through ports (including via USB), however internal upgrades are not recommended or in some cases impossible, making the desktop PC more modular.A subtype of notebooks, called subnotebooks, are computers with most of the features of a standard laptop computer but smaller. They are larger than hand-held computers, and usually run full versions of desktop/laptop operating systems. Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC) are usually considered subnotebooks, or more specifically, subnotebook Tablet PCs (see below). Netbooks are sometimes considered in this category, though they are sometimes separated in a category of their own (see below).Desktop replacements, meanwhile, are large laptops meant to replace a desktop computer while keeping the mobility of a laptop.NetbookBlack ASUS Eee PC in proportions comparison with tissuesNetbook PCs are small portable computers in a "clamshell" design, that are designed specifically for wireless communication and access to the Internet. They are generally much lighter and cheaper than subnotebooks, and have a smaller display, between 7" and 9", with a screen resolution between 800x600 and 1024x768. The operating systems and applications on them are usually specially modified so they can be comfortably used with a smaller sized screen, and the OS is often based on Linux, although some Netbooks also use Windows XP. Some Netbooks make use of their built in high speed Wireless connectivity to offload some of their applications software to Internet servers, through the principle of Cloud computing, as most Netbooks have small solid state storage systems instead of hard-disks. Storage capacities are usually in the 4 to 16 GB range. One of the first examples of such a system was the original EEE PC.Tablet PCHP Compaq tablet PC with rotating/removable keyboard.A tablet PC is a notebook or slate-shaped mobile computer, first introduced by Pen computing in the early 90s with their PenGo Tablet Computer and popularized by Microsoft. Its touchscreen or graphics tablet/screen hybrid technology allows the user to operate the computer with a stylus or digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a keyboard or mouse. The form factor offers a more mobile way to interact with a computer. Tablet PCs are often used where normal notebooks are impractical or unwieldy, or do not provide the needed functionality.Ultra-Mobile PCSamsung Q1 Ultra-Mobile PC.The ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a specification for a small form factor tablet PC. It was developed as a joint development exercise by Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung, among others. Current UMPCs typically feature the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, or Linux operating system and low-voltage Intel Pentium or VIA C7-M processors in the 1 GHz range.Home Theater PCAntec Fusion V2 home theater PC with keyboard on top.A home theater PC (HTPC) is a convergence device that combines the functions of a personal computer and a digital video recorder. It is connected to a television or a television-sized computer display and is often used as a digital photo, music, video player, TV receiver and digital video recorder. Home theater PCs are also referred to as media center systems or media servers. The general goal in a HTPC is usually to combine many or all components of a home theater setup into one box. They can be purchased pre-configured with the required hardware and software needed to add television programming to the PC, or can be cobbled together out of discrete components as is commonly done with Windows Media Center, GB-PVR, SageTV, Famulent or LinuxMCE.Pocket PCAn O2 pocket PCA pocket PC is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer (personal digital assistant) that runs the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system. It may have the capability to run an alternative operating system like NetBSD or Linux. It has many of the capabilities of modern desktop PCs.Currently there are tens of thousands of applications for handhelds adhering to the Microsoft Pocket PC specification, many of which are freeware. Some of these devices also include mobile phone features. Microsoft compliant Pocket PCs can also be used with many other add-ons like GPS receivers, barcode readers, RFID readers, and cameras. In 2007, with the release of Windows Mobile 6, Microsoft dropped the name Pocket PC in favor of a new naming scheme. Devices without an integrated phone are called Windows Mobile Classic instead of Pocket PC. Devices with an integrated phone and a touch screen are called Windows Mobile Professional.[9]HardwareAn exploded view of a modern personal computer and peripherals:1. Scanner2. CPU (Microprocessor)3. Primary storage (RAM)4. Expansion cards (graphics cards, etc)5. Power supply6. Optical disc drive7. Secondary storage (Hard disk)8. Motherboard9. Speakers10. Monitor11. System software12. Application software13. Keyboard14. Mouse15. External hard disk16. PrinterMain article: Computer hardwareA typical hardware setup of a desktop computer consists of:* computer case with power supply* central processing unit (processor)* motherboard* memory card* hard disk* video card* visual display unit (monitor)* optical disc (usually DVD-ROM or DVD Writer)* keyboard and pointing deviceThese components can usually be put together with little knowledge to build a computer. The motherboard is a main part of a computer that connects all devices together. The memory card(s), graphics card and processor are mounted directly onto the motherboard (the processor in a socket and the memory and graphics cards in expansion slots). The mass storage is connected to it with cables and can be installed in the computer case or in a separate case. This is the same for the keyboard and mouse, except that they are external and connect to the I/O panel on the back of the computer. The monitor is also connected to the I/O panel, either through an onboard port on the motherboard, or a port on the graphics card.Several functions (implemented by chipsets) can be integrated into the motherboard, typically USB and network, but also graphics and sound. Even if these are present, a separate card can be added if what is available isn't sufficient. The graphics and sound card can have a break out box to keep the analog parts away from the electromagnetic radiation inside the computer case. For really large amounts of data, a tape drive can be used or (extra) hard disks can be put together in an external case.The hardware capabilities of personal computers can sometimes be extended by the addition of expansion cards connected via an expansion bus. Some standard peripheral buses often used for adding expansion cards in personal computers as of 2005 are PCI, AGP (a high-speed PCI bus dedicated to graphics adapters), and PCI Express. Most personal computers as of 2005 have multiple physical PCI expansion slots. Many also include an AGP bus and expansion slot or a PCI Express bus and one or more expansion slots, but few PCs contain both buses.Computer caseA stripped ATX case lying on its side.A computer case is the enclosure that contains the main components of a computer. Cases are usually constructed from steel, aluminium, or plastic, although other materials such as wood, plexiglas or fans[10] have also been used in case designs. Cases can come in many different sizes, or form factors. The size and shape of a computer case is usually determined by the form factor of the motherboard that it is designed to accommodate, since this is the largest and most central component of most computers. Consequently, personal computer form factors typically specify only the internal dimensions and layout of the case. Form factors for rack-mounted and blade servers may include precise external dimensions as well, since these cases must themselves fit in specific enclosures.Currently, the most popular form factor for desktop computers is ATX, although microATX and small form factors have become very popular for a variety of uses. Companies like Shuttle Inc. and AOpen have popularized small cases, for which FlexATX is the most common motherboard size.Central processing unitAMD Athlon 64 CPU.The central processing unit, or CPU, is that part of a computer which executes software program instructions. In older computers this circuitry was formerly on several printed circuit boards, but in PCs is a single integrated circuit. Nearly all PCs contain a type of CPU known as a microprocessor. The microprocessor often plugs into the motherboard using one of many different types of sockets. IBM PC compatible computers use an x86-compatible processor, usually made by Intel, AMD, VIA Technologies or Transmeta. Apple Macintosh computers were initially built with the Motorola 680x0 family of processors, then switched to the PowerPC series (a RISC architecture jointly developed by Apple Computer, IBM and Motorola), but as of 2006, Apple switched again, this time to x86-compatible processors by Intel. Modern CPUs are equipped with a fan attached via heat sink.MotherboardAsus motherboardThe motherboard, also referred to as systemboard or mainboard, is the primary circuit board within a personal computer. Many other components connect directly or indirectly to the motherboard. Motherboards usually contain one or more CPUs, supporting circuitry - usually integrated circuits (ICs) - providing the interface between the CPU memory and input/output peripheral circuits, main memory, and facilities for initial setup of the computer immediately after power-on (often called boot firmware or, in IBM PC compatible computers, a BIOS). In many portable and embedded personal computers, the motherboard houses nearly all of the PC's core components. Often a motherboard will also contain one or more peripheral buses and physical connectors for expansion purposes. Sometimes a secondary daughter board is connected to the motherboard to provide further expandability or to satisfy space constraints.Main memory1GB DDR SDRAM 400 moduleA PC's main memory is fast storage that is directly accessible by the CPU, and is used to store the currently executing program and immediately needed data. PCs use semiconductor random access memory (RAM) of various kinds such as DRAM or SRAM as their primary storage. Which exact kind depends on cost/performance issues at any particular time. Main memory is much faster than mass storage devices like hard disks or optical discs, but is usually volatile, meaning it does not retain its contents (instructions or data) in the absence of power, and is much more expensive for a given capacity than is most mass storage. Main memory is generally not suitable for long-term or archival data storage.Hard diskA Western Digital 250 GB hard disk drive.Mass storage devices store programs and data even when the power is off; they do require power to perform read and write functions during usage. Although semiconductor flash memory has dropped in cost, the prevailing form of mass storage in personal computers is still the electromechanical hard disk.The disk drives use a sealed head/disk assembly (HDA) which was first introduced by IBM's "Winchester" disk system. The use of a sealed assembly allowed the use of positive air pressure to drive out particles from the surface of the disk, which improves reliability.If the mass storage controller provides for expandability, a PC may also be upgraded by the addition of extra hard disk or optical disc drives. For example, DVD-ROMs, CD-ROMs, and various optical disc recorders may all be added by the user to certain PCs. Standard internal storage device interfaces are ATA, Serial ATA, SCSI, and CF+ type II in 2005.Video cardATI Radeon video cardThe video card - otherwise called a graphics card, graphics adapter or video adapter - processes and renders the graphics output from the computer to the computer display, also called the visual display unit (VDU), and is an essential part of the modern computer. On older models, and today on budget models, graphics circuitry tended to be integrated with the motherboard but, for modern flexible machines, they are supplied in PCI, AGP, or PCI Express format.When the IBM PC was introduced, most existing business-oriented personal computers used text-only display adapters and had no graphics capability. Home computers at that time had graphics compatible with television signals, but with low resolution by modern standards owing to the limited memory available to the eight-bit processors available at the time.Visual display unitAn LG flat-panel LCD monitor.A visual display unit (also called monitor) is a piece of electrical equipment, usually separate from the computer case, which displays viewable images generated by a computer without producing a permanent record. The word "monitor" is used in other contexts; in particular in television broadcasting, where a television picture is displayed to a high standard. A computer display device is usually either a cathode ray tube or some form of flat panel such as a TFT LCD. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry to generate a picture from electronic signals sent by the computer, and an enclosure or case. Within the computer, either as an integral part or a plugged-in interface, there is circuitry to convert internal data to a format compatible with a monitor. The images from monitors originally contained only text, but as Graphical user interfaces emerged and became common, they began to display more images and multimedia content.KeyboardsComputer keyboardIn computing, a keyboard is an arrangement of buttons that each correspond to a function, letter, or number. They are the primary devices of inputing text. In most cases, they contain an aray of keys specifically organized with the corresponding letters, numbers, and functions printed or engraved on the button. They are generally designed around an operators language, and many different versions for different languages exist. In English, the most common layout is the QWERTY layout, which was originally used in typewriters. They have evolved over time, and have been modified for use in computers with the addition of function keys, number keys, arrow keys, and OS specific keys. Often, specific functions can be achieved by pressing multiple keys at once or in succession, such as inputing characters with accents or opening a task manager. Programs use keyboard shotcuts very differently and all use different keyboard shortcuts for different program specific operations, such as refreshing a web page in a web browser or selecting all text in a word processor.Pointing devicesApple Mighty Mouse that detects the location of your finger, when clicking, with Capacitive sensors.A Mouse on a computer is a small, slidable device that users hold and slide around to point at, click, and sometimes drag objects on screen in a graphical user interface using a pointer on screen. Almost all Personal Computers have mice. It may be plugged into a computer's rear mouse socket, or as a USB device, or, more recently, may be connected wirelessly via a USB antenna or Bluetooth antenna. In the past, they had a single button that users could press down on the device to "click" on whatever the pointer on the screen was hovering over. Now, however, many Mice have two or three buttons; a "right click" function button on the mouse, which performs a secondary action on a selected object, and a scroll wheel, which users can rotate the wheel using their fingers to "scroll" up or down. The scroll wheel can also be pressed down, and therefore be used as a third button. Different programs make use of these functions differently, and may scroll horizontally by default with the scroll wheel, open different menus with different buttons, among others.Mice traditionally detected movement and communicated with the computer with an internal "mouse ball"; and use optical encoders to detect rotation of the ball and tell the computer where the mouse has moved. However, these systems were subject to low durability and accuracy. Modern mice use optical technology to directly trace movement of the surface under the mouse and are much more accurate and durable. They work on a wider variety of surfaces and can even operate on walls, ceilings or other non-horizontal surfaces.That's all I can tell you abot computers!Hope the information was good enough!Thank You!